56 



could have overflown the country to the extent which 

 is necessary to produce the effects which 1 have men- 

 tioned, we must look to a partial or general deluge, as 

 absolutely necessary in the first place. 



Of such we have no authentick account, excepting 

 that which happened in the days of Noah. Neverthe- 

 less, there is much reason to believe that it is not the 

 only time in which this earth has been totally or par- 

 tially inundated. Mr. Cuvier seems to entertain a be- 

 lief that this globe has been thrice deluged, at diffe- 

 rent periods of time. However that may be, we have 

 strong indications in this country, of there having been 

 at least two deluges, over the whole continent, and 

 which, perhaps, 1 shall take notice of hereafter. 



Since it is not the object of this work to ascertain 

 the number and periods, at which these events took 

 place ; I shall proceed to inquire into the manner in 

 which an occurrence of such moment, was probably ac- 

 complished, and what influence it had in causing a ge- 

 neral current, sweeping across the whole continent of 

 America, from the north east to the south west, in pre- 

 ference to any other course, or point of the compass. 



To this end, I shall examine the plain text as re- 

 lated in the 7th chapter of the book of (renesis, verse 

 seventh : "For yet seven days, and I will cause it to 

 rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and 

 every living substance that I have made, will I destroy 

 from q^the face of the earth." 



It is generally admitted, by almost all who believe 

 in the universal deluge or Noatic-flood, that it was 



